Page 13 of Engulfing Emma

“It sounds like it. That’s how I want it to be for Leo and me. Bonnie—that’s Leo’s nanny—lives with us because that’s what Amanda wanted when he first came home. She’s more like family than his nanny. She’s there when I’m on shift, and she watches him when I go out with my friends, but for the most part, I’m Leo’s primary caregiver whenever I can be.”

“I think you must be a lot like my dad.”

“I hope so.”

“Brett?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m really worried about Carter. His pulse is racing, and he’s breathing like he’s running a marathon.”

“What does his skin feel like?”

I put a hand on his head and then his arm. “Cool and clammy.”

“Can you open his eyes and look at his pupils? I’m not sure how much light you have in there, but I need to know if they are enlarged.”

“Hold on.”

I cradle the phone with my shoulder and open his eyelids with my fingers. “They could be enlarged, but I don’t have a flashlight in here to tell for sure.”

“Damn it.”

“What is it?”

He blows a breath into the phone. “I think he’s going into hypovolemic shock.”

“What does that mean exactly?”

“It means …” He hesitates, and I know the next words out of his mouth won’t be good. “It means he’ll die if he doesn’t get a blood transfusion.”

My eyes well up with tears that quickly spill over. I’m already crying for Evelyn and my mom. I’m crying because I know the phone call they’ll get will devastate them.

“Emma, are you listening?”

“I’m here. What can I do?”

“You can get the gunman to let me in.”

Chapter Five

Brett

“Let you in? Are you crazy?” she yells in my ear.

“Emma, be quiet. You don’t want him to catch you on the phone.”

“Are you crazy?” she whispers loudly.

“It’s the only way to save him. Knock on the door again. Don’t tell him you’re on the phone. Tell him Carter will die in a matter of minutes if he doesn’t get blood. Lie and say you’ve had some kind of emergency training because you’re a teacher. Tell him you’re sure of the situation. Make up whatever you can to get me in there. Either that or maybe he’ll understand the severity of things and let Carter out. Either way we need to help Carter.”

There is a long pause.

“Emma?”

“Brett, I think I’m having a heart attack.”

My adrenaline spikes. “I really doubt that. You’re probably having a panic attack. I need you to sit down. Or better yet, lie down and put your head back in case you pass out.”

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